AEC will change tourism landscape

 Thailand and neigbouring countries, Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar stand to benefit the most from ASEAN’s single market says Tourism Council of Thailand president, Piyaman Techapaibul.

“The benefit will be mainly be felt by tourism clusters that will connect Thailand with Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam…it should encourage regional promotions of new packages,” she said.

Package tours are likely to improve to Thailand’s north and northeast linked to Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar as regulations ease.

For example, Chiang Rai is the only province that has three airports close by that offer flights to various popular tourist destinations in two neighbouring countries. Travellers touring the region and business travellers building their trade networks do not need to back track to Bangkok to visit Yangon and Vientiane if they are in Chiang Rai.

Relaxed border regulations at Mae Sai allow them to travel freely to most destinations in Myanmar without back-tracking through the same border checkpoint.

The airports are Tachilek just over the border from Mae Sai around 100 km north of Chiang Rai town and Huay Xai in Laos (Chiang Khong) 80 km east of town, and Chiang Rai’s own airport 12 km from the city centre.

As ASEAN work and trade barriers fall, travellers will find it more convenient to fly from Tachilek to Mandalay and Yangon than travelling via Bangkok. There also daily airline services from Huay Xai  in Laos to Vientiane where visitors can connect with flights to Luang Prabang and Pakse, as well as cities in the Mekong Region again without having to backtrack to Bangkok.

The travel trade in the far north province should tap the potential of having three airports on their doorstep. Chiang Rai’s airport has very limited options with flights to just  Bangkok and a three-weekly service to Kunming using small ATR turboprops.   It desperately needs more regional airline links and if it fails to fill the gap, neigbhours Laos and Myanmar are likely to see they have an opportunity to build connectivity through Hua Xai and Tachilek airports that will encourage more efficient travel routes.

Chiang Mai Tourism Business Association president, Sarawut Saeteaw, said connecting tourism with the AEC concept will encourage tourists to purchase  packages to neighbouring countries.

“Therefore, we have to create tourism clusters  to create an environment to reach the government’s revenue target of Bt2 trillion by 2015,” he said.

In the south, Thailand’s travel agents need to consider packages covering Malaysia and Indonesia.

Thai Hotels Association Southern Chapter president, Suchart Hirankanokkul, added that opening AEC will benefit southern tourism industry specifically the hotel business.

“Tourist from ASEAN will  travel more due to more flexible connectivity…business travellers also will increase resulting in  more guests at southern hotels particularly from Singapore and Malaysia.”

Association of Thai Travel Agents president, Sisdivachr Cheewarattanaporn, said AEC will pressure Thailand’s tourism sector particularly the hotel segment to make big improvements.

“The liberalisation then will give most benefit to four and five-star hotels especially at new tourist attractions near border areas.”

For January to August this year, ASEAN tourist arrivals to Thailand reached 4,623,307 visits increasing 14.77% from 4,028,175 during the same period last year, according to Minstry of Tourism and Sports data.

Of that, Malaysia led the field with 1,880,326 visits (+19.94%) followed by Laos (640,595;-1.15%), Singapore (599,566; +19.44%), Vietnam (529,914; +20.60%), and Indonesia (390,723; +38.29%).

The remaining source  markets were: Cambodia (256,316; -5.05%); Philippines (204,309; +7.70%); Myanmar (112,377; +36.80%); and Brunei (9,181; +40.51%).

Sourced: ttrweekly